Stoa Digest #132: ♾️Comma, not a Fullstop♾️
Your journey is not a month, a year, a decade small. It is a longer adventure.
Hey there Stoans and friends,
If you’ve hung around the internet the last few months, you’ve heard the whispers about layoffs and the rollercoaster of emotions that come with it. I want to shift focus a bit and chat about what happens after the dust settles, and you find yourself navigating the transition to your next role in your longer career journey.
Now, this journey has its own mix of phases - some a bit nerve-wracking, others surprisingly heartwarming.
Phase 1: The Missing
First off, there's the unmistakable void left by old colleagues who were not just coworkers but friends. Those casual "chai pe charcha" moments become a longing memory, and suddenly, coffee breaks lose their refreshing touch. Your lonely desk starts looking more appealing than strangers sharing their tales. But fear not, weekends are still there, and you'll catch up with them outside the office.
Phase 2: The Realization
Picture this: you're engrossed in a video, ready to share a laugh with your friend who appreciates killer content just as much as you do. You turn your chair, ready to tap their shoulder, and... surprise!
It's not them. Instead, there's a new face buried in an Excel sheet with headphones on. Reality hits you like a truck - you've entered a different office space. People here prefer Google Docs over Notion, Excel over Airtable, and chai over coffee. Suddenly, you find yourself blending into the crowd.
Phase 3: The Denial
You try to brush it off. "Ah, it is what it is. I hardly meet my 'friends' from the previous company, we hardly chat. Maybe this is just how work friendships go. I should get over it and focus on work."
You mute Instagram notifications of your ex-colleagues enjoying lunch, convincing yourself that you don't need friends, just work.
You give it a shot, stumble, give it another shot, stumble again...
Phase 4: The Acceptance
There you are, sulking at your desk, dreading lunch hour. Suddenly, a colleague invites you to a new Notion dashboard, complete with toggle lists and color-coded views. You crack a smile.
Another colleague hands you homemade coconut laddoo, whispering, "Don't tell everyone, this is just for a few of us." Another smile.
A tap on your shoulder, a colleague urging you to check out a killer video with solid graphics.
And then, your phone buzzes with a message from your ex-colleagues group, saying, "Let's all have an amazing day, including you."
After navigating through these phases, maybe once, maybe twice, you arrive at a place where, though you cherish the bonds with your ex-colleagues, you start finding friends among the new faces.
You embrace the new job and start building your new story. You realize that the journey, though bittersweet, is a part of a longer adventure.
- Jahnavy, Team Stoa
🎺🎖️ Community Trumpet 🎖️🎺
Performing in front of an audience is not easy. It takes courage, practice, and want to share your story with your audience.
From the time Vikram Totlani joined Stoa, back in Cohort 9, he has made many of us smile with his words. He has a knack for storytelling and for making you forget work and read his works. XD
Here’s to Vikram, aur uski rum_ki_kalam who performed for the first time in a live show in Bangalore. Kudos man and can’t wait to see more of your performances.⭐
⏯ For Stoans by Stoans ⏯
Learn to get better at Transitions
Self-reflection is a 100% must
How things look can make a huge difference
Bullet points, yay or nay
What is your career moat?
Sayonara, fam!✨